Most Effective Techniques To Get Rid Of Spider Mites

Spider mites are very small creatures that look like spiders but, instead of eating insects, they eat the fluid inside plants. The good news is that they do not represent any risk to humans or pets, they are simply too small to break your skin, even if they wanted to try. 

However, their desire for plant fluids means they can be a real nuisance for indoor and outdoor plants. In short, if you discover spider mites on your plants you are going to want to contact a pest control specialist or take action yourself. 

Signs Of A Spider Mite Issue

The most common sign that you have a spider mite issue is when your plants have leaves that are turning brown. You are likely to think that they need a little water. But, take a moment to look under the leaves and you may see tiny dots moving around. There will also be traces of webbing. That means you have spider mites. 

You can also tell you have an issue if you see stippling or silvery dots on the top of the leaves. These are hard to see because they are so small. But the greater the infection the easier they are to spot.  

Because the spider mites target the pores on the leaves, the plat struggles to control its hydration level, causing it to shrivel and ultimately die. 

Getting the exterminators in suddenly seems like a sensible idea! However, there are several things you can try yourself before calling them.

Cleaning

Simply wiping the leaves daily will remove dust and spider mites. You may not be able to see them but a good clean will still eliminate them. Of course, one clean is rarely enough, this needs to be done regularly. 

Raise Humidity

Another point worth noting is that spider mites tend to prefer dry environments. If the air around a plant is humid the spider mites are less likely to settle. You can use a fan and mist spray or a humidifier to ensure the plants are gently misted periodically. The plants will appreciate the moisture, the spider mites won’t. 

Isolation

If you discover spider mites on a plant then immediately isolate it from your other plants and check them all thoroughly. Spider mites can spread quickly between plants, it is much easier to deal with the issue on one plant or even to lose one plant than it is to have all your plants covered in them.

Pruning

If you have a heavy coverage of spider mites you can prune part of the plant to eliminate them. Just be careful not to prune too much of the plant.

Pesticides

Providing the plants are not producing the food you can spray them with pesticides which will eliminate the spider mites for you. There are many different pesticides available, try to choose a different one each time to prevent the spider mites from becoming immune. 

Don’t forget, if you want a more natural solution, dish soap and water in a spray bottle can also be very effective.